Founded in 1805 as the first school and museum of fine arts in the United States, PAFA is a National Medal of Arts recipient that celebrates the transformative power of American art and art-making through its collections, exhibitions, and education programs.
PAFA is pleased to announce the appointment of Jane Allsopp as Chief Development Officer and Senior Vice President. In this role, Jane will develop and lead PAFA's comprehensive fundraising initiatives, working with senior staff, the Board of Trustees, and the development team to ensure the long…
PAFA is the recipient of a gift totaling $2 million from National Trustee Ken Woodcock. This generous gift will endow the museum's Curator of Historical American Art position, which will henceforth be named The Kenneth R. Woodcock Curator of Historical American Art. This position is currently held…
Explore every nook and cranny of the landmark 1875 painting by Thomas Eakins, "The Gross Clinic," with the New York Times's Jason Farago, and gain insight into its details and the significance they hold.
The PAFA website has won a 2020 Webby Award for "Best School/University" project for its 2019 website redesign. Established in 1996, the Webby Awards are the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet.
The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation announced the recipients of its 2019 Biennial Grants this week. Among this year's recipients is BFA alumnus Arcmanoro Niles '13.
PAFA is pleased to announce the addition of 88 historic, modern, and contemporary works to its renowned permanent collection of American art. Works by Purvis Young, Liliana Porter, General Idea, Winifred Lutz, Jonathan Lyndon Chase, and more are among the latest acquisitions.
In anticipation of an upcoming exhibition, Smithsonian Magazine takes a closer look at the life and work of Charles Willson Peale, with a shout-out to The Artist in His Museum—a gem of PAFA collection to be featured in the exhibition.
PAFA is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a $75,000 urgent needs grant from the Henry Luce Foundation, awarded for the purpose of providing financial support for PAFA as it continues to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NBC Philadelphia takes a look at some of the most exciting ways to virtually engage with arts and culture in Philadelphia, including the PAFA From Home initiative.
Dr. David C. Driskell (1931–2020) passed away on April 1. Dr. Driskell was an artist, art historian, and curator who was deeply influential in bringing wider recognition to African American art in the United States. Members of the Museum's curatorial staff have chosen to share their remembrances.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at visitorservices@pafa.org — we’d love to help!
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About PAFA
Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the United States’ first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers a world-class collection of American art, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and educational opportunities in the fine arts. The PAFA Museum aims to tell America's diverse story through art, expanding who has been included in the canon of art history through its collections, exhibitions, and public programs, while classes educate artists and appreciators with a deep understanding of traditions and the ability to challenge conventions. PAFA’s esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner.
